cabinet air conditioner indoor unit

Abstract

This utility model provides a cabinet-type indoor unit for air conditioning, relating to the field of air conditioning technology. The indoor unit includes: a casing with a heat exchange chamber inside; an indoor heat exchanger disposed within the heat exchange chamber; and an inlet pipe assembly including: an inlet pipe; a branch pipe connected to the refrigerant flow path of the indoor heat exchanger via multiple branch pipes; a connector with a first, second, and third interconnected interface, the connector having a first flow channel connecting the second and third interfaces and a second flow channel connecting the first flow channel and the first interface; the first interface connecting to the branch pipe and the second interface connecting to one end of the inlet pipe; a first blind pipe connected to the third interface; and an impeller disposed in the second flow channel, forming multiple liquid passages between the impeller and the pipe wall of the connector. In this utility model, the use of a branch pipe for refrigerant inlet diversion reduces the complexity of the inlet pipe assembly, and the inlet pipe enters the branch pipe via the impeller, improving the uniformity of refrigerant diversion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of air conditioning technology, and in particular relates to a cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit. Background Technology

[0002] Floor-standing air conditioner indoor units are widely used in larger spaces such as living rooms and conference rooms due to their large air volume and convenient installation. A floor-standing air conditioner indoor unit has a casing that forms its appearance. The casing is generally placed vertically on the ground and has a top and bottom, which are opposite each other along its length. Inside the casing is an indoor heat exchanger with multiple refrigerant flow paths and a cross-flow fan. The axial length of the cross-flow fan basically covers the entire height of the indoor heat exchanger, resulting in a "basically uniform" airflow distribution along the length of the casing, thus providing favorable conditions for uniform refrigerant evaporation.

[0003] The indoor unit of a cabinet air conditioner also includes an inlet pipe assembly for distributing refrigerant into various refrigerant flow paths during cooling operation. Currently, inlet distribution in indoor heat exchangers is mostly achieved using a distributor + branch pipes. With the widespread application of small-diameter internally threaded copper pipes, the heat exchange efficiency of indoor heat exchangers has improved for the same volume. However, the smaller pipe diameter also increases the resistance to refrigerant flow, shortening the length of each flow path and thus increasing the number of refrigerant flow paths in the indoor heat exchanger. The increase in branch pipes means increased cost of the inlet pipe assembly, greater piping complexity, and greater difficulty in assembly. The space occupied by the pipe assembly also increases, resulting in a larger casing volume or compressing the space of other components.

[0004] To address the aforementioned technical issues, some related technologies employ flute-shaped tubes as diversion pipes for flow distribution. This structure occupies little space and the piping is simple and easy to assemble. However, the flow distribution via flute-shaped tubes is susceptible to various factors, such as centrifugal force generated by changes in the refrigerant flow path and the gas-liquid two-phase flow characteristics of the refrigerant. These factors can lead to uneven flow distribution, affecting the heat exchange capacity of the indoor heat exchanger. Utility Model Content

[0005] This utility model aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in related technologies. Therefore, This utility model provides a cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit, which includes: The housing has a top and bottom end that are opposite ends along its length. The housing defines a heat exchange chamber and has an air inlet and an air outlet that communicate with the heat exchange chamber. An indoor heat exchanger is disposed within the heat exchanger along the length of the casing and near the air inlet. The indoor heat exchanger has several refrigerant flow paths connected in parallel. A cross-flow fan is installed inside the heat exchange chamber and located between the indoor heat exchanger and the air outlet; The inlet pipe assembly is used to distribute refrigerant into each of the refrigerant flow paths under refrigeration conditions. The inlet pipe assembly includes: An inlet pipe is located inside the heat exchange cavity; A diversion pipe extends along the length of the casing and is disposed within the heat exchange cavity, with both ends of the diversion pipe closed along its length. Several branch pipes are arranged at intervals along the length of the branch pipe, and one end of each branch pipe is connected to the branch pipe, while the other end is connected to each of the refrigerant flow paths. A connector is provided with a first interface, a second interface and a third interface that are connected to each other. A first flow channel is formed in the connector to connect the second interface and the third interface, and a second flow channel is formed to connect the first flow channel and the first interface. The first interface is connected to the split pipe and the second interface is connected to one end of the inlet pipe. The first blind tube has one end closed and the other end connected to the third interface; An impeller is fixed in the second flow channel, and multiple liquid passages for refrigerant to pass through are formed between the impeller and the tube wall of the connector.

[0006] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: Utilizing a distribution pipe combined with distribution branches for refrigerant inlet diversion reduces the complexity of the inlet pipe assembly, saves piping costs, and improves assembly efficiency. By setting a connector with a blind pipe between the inlet pipe and the distribution pipe, the impact of centrifugal force generated by the refrigerant flow path change on the diversion effect is reduced. Simultaneously, an impeller is installed in the second flow channel of the connector. After passing through the impeller, the refrigerant rotates under centrifugal force and enters the distribution pipe through multiple liquid passages, reducing the influence of gravity after entering the distribution pipe from the second flow channel. This allows the refrigerant to be more evenly distributed to each distribution branch, improving the overall heat exchange efficiency of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0007] In some embodiments, the top and bottom ends of the shunt tube are sealed by a second blind tube and a third blind tube, respectively.

[0008] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: by setting blind pipes at both ends of the branch pipe to form a closed space, the axial pressure of the branch pipe can be balanced, the uneven distribution of refrigerant caused by the pressure difference at both ends of the branch pipe can be reduced, and the consistency of refrigerant flow in each branch pipe can be further improved.

[0009] In some embodiments, the length of the second blind tube is greater than the length of the third blind tube.

[0010] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the refrigerant is in a gas-liquid two-phase flow in the inlet pipe assembly, and gaseous refrigerant will precipitate during the flow. The second blind pipe can provide a space to accommodate the precipitated gaseous refrigerant. By setting an extended second blind pipe, the gaseous refrigerant precipitates and accumulates in the second blind pipe during the flow process, solving the problem that the uppermost branch pipe is always occupied by gaseous refrigerant, resulting in extremely uneven flow between the upper and lower branches, and improving the consistency of the flow rate and heat exchange uniformity of the refrigerant flow paths in the upper and lower branches.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first interface is connected to the middle of the shunt.

[0012] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: connecting the first interface to the middle of the branch pipe optimizes the refrigerant flow path in the branch pipe. After the refrigerant enters from the middle of the branch pipe, the time difference and pressure difference of the refrigerant reaching each branch pipe are reduced, making the refrigerant flow in each branch pipe in the upper and lower sections of the branch pipe more uniform, improving the heat exchange uniformity of each refrigerant flow path in the indoor heat exchanger, and thus improving the overall heat exchange efficiency of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0013] In some embodiments, the shunt pipe has a through portion connected to the first interface, and at least three shunt branches are provided between the through portion and the bottom end of the shunt pipe.

[0014] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the refrigerant in the area below the through section flows faster under the action of gravity. By increasing the number of branch pipes below the through section, the high kinetic energy of this area can be fully utilized to distribute the refrigerant relatively evenly to multiple branch pipes, effectively compensating for the problem of concentrated flow at the bottom caused by gravity, thereby significantly improving the refrigerant distribution uniformity of the corresponding section of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0015] In some embodiments, the impeller includes a plurality of blades, which are evenly spaced circumferentially around the central axis of the impeller, and one end of each blade away from the central axis is connected to the pipe wall of the connector.

[0016] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: By arranging multiple blades evenly spaced circumferentially around the impeller's central axis, the centrifugal force field is made completely symmetrical in the circumferential direction, completely eliminating secondary flow deviations caused by uneven blade arrangement. This ensures that the refrigerant is evenly distributed circumferentially under centrifugal force, avoiding new uneven flow distribution caused by localized excessive / weak forces, and further guaranteeing flow consistency. The end of the blade furthest from the central axis is connected to the pipe wall of the connector, enhancing the impeller's stability and preventing noise caused by impeller vibration during high-speed refrigerant flow, thus ensuring long-term stability of the flow guiding effect.

[0017] In some embodiments, the blade has a liquid-facing surface facing the second flow channel, the liquid-facing surface being inclined relative to the axial direction of the second flow channel.

[0018] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: by tilting the liquid-facing surface of the blades, a stronger swirling flow field is generated when the axially flowing refrigerant flows through, which increases the centrifugal force and allows the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant to enter the distribution pipe during the rotation process, reducing the influence of gravity after entering the distribution pipe and enabling it to be distributed more evenly to each distribution branch pipe.

[0019] In some embodiments, the indoor unit of the cabinet air conditioner further includes an outlet pipe assembly, which includes a manifold and a plurality of manifold branches. The plurality of manifold branches connect the manifold to the other end of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths. The manifold located in the heat exchange cavity is arranged parallel to the branch pipe and the inlet pipe.

[0020] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the manifold, branch pipe and inlet pipe are arranged in parallel to form a "straight line" layout, which can be installed close to the end plate of the indoor heat exchanger, improving the compactness of the layout in the heat exchange cavity and reducing the space occupied by the pipeline inside the casing.

[0021] In some embodiments, the diameter of the branch pipe is smaller than the diameter of the manifold.

[0022] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: The diameter of the branch pipe is smaller than that of the manifold, resulting in a high flow velocity and high turbulence of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant entering the branch pipe within the smaller diameter. This further suppresses gravity stratification and liquid phase deposition, improves the consistency of the liquid refrigerant in each branch pipe, and increases the utilization rate of the indoor heat exchanger. The refrigerant entering the manifold is gaseous with a large specific volume; increasing the manifold diameter reduces kinetic energy loss and friction resistance, which is beneficial for improving cooling capacity and energy efficiency ratio.

[0023] According to another aspect of this application, a cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit is also provided, comprising: The housing has a top and bottom end that are opposite ends along its length. The housing defines a heat exchange chamber and has an air inlet and an air outlet that communicate with the heat exchange chamber. An indoor heat exchanger is disposed within the heat exchanger along the length of the casing and near the air inlet. The indoor heat exchanger has several refrigerant flow paths connected in parallel. A cross-flow fan is installed inside the heat exchange chamber and located between the indoor heat exchanger and the air outlet; The inlet pipe assembly is used to distribute refrigerant into each of the refrigerant flow paths under refrigeration conditions. The inlet pipe assembly includes: An inlet pipe is located inside the heat exchange cavity; A diversion pipe extends along the length of the casing and is disposed within the heat exchange cavity, with both ends of the diversion pipe closed along its length. Several branch pipes are arranged at intervals along the length of the branch pipe, and one end of each branch pipe is connected to the branch pipe, while the other end is connected to each of the refrigerant flow paths. A connector is provided with a first interface, a second interface and a third interface that are connected to each other. A first flow channel is formed in the connector to connect the second interface and the third interface, and a second flow channel is formed to connect the first flow channel and the first interface. The first interface is connected to the split pipe and the second interface is connected to one end of the inlet pipe. The first blind tube has one end closed and the other end connected to the third interface; An impeller, disposed in the second flow channel, has a plurality of blades arranged at circumferential intervals, the blades being configured to cause the refrigerant flowing through the impeller to swirl.

[0024] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: By optimizing the structural design of the inlet pipe assembly, the number of flow paths is reduced, the complexity of the inlet pipe assembly is decreased, and the inlet pipe assembly is simplified, achieving efficient flow splitting and stable flow of refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger. By setting connectors in the inlet pipe assembly and blind pipes on the flow splitting pipe and connectors, the influence of centrifugal force generated by the change of refrigerant flow path on the flow splitting effect is reduced. An impeller with multiple spaced blades is set in the second flow channel connected to the connector and the flow splitting pipe, which enables the refrigerant to generate swirling flow after passing through, reducing the influence of gravity on the refrigerant after it enters the flow splitting pipe from the second flow channel, improving the uniformity of flow splitting, and thus improving the overall heat exchange efficiency of the indoor heat exchanger. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the appearance of the indoor unit of a cabinet air conditioner according to one embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 2 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to one embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 4 This is a structural schematic diagram of an indoor heat exchanger according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the inlet pipe assembly and the indoor heat exchanger according to one embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 6 This is a structural schematic diagram of the inlet pipe assembly according to one embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle; Figure 8 This is an assembly diagram of the impeller and connecting member according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a connector according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the outlet pipe assembly and the indoor heat exchanger according to one embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 11 This is a structural schematic diagram of the outlet pipe assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 12 This is a structural schematic diagram of the inlet pipe assembly and the outlet pipe assembly according to one embodiment of this disclosure.

[0027] In the above figures: indoor air conditioner unit 100; casing 10; air inlet 11; air guide plate 12; damper 13; indoor heat exchanger 20; cross-flow fan 30; heat exchange chamber 40; inlet pipe assembly 50; outlet pipe assembly 60; inlet pipe 1; branch pipe 2; second blind pipe 21; third blind pipe 22; branch pipe 3; connector 4; first interface 41; second interface 42; third interface 43; first flow channel 44; second flow channel 45; first blind pipe 5; impeller 6; blade 61; manifold 7; branch pipe 71. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present invention will now be described in detail through exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that, without further description, elements, structures, and features in one embodiment may be advantageously incorporated into other embodiments.

[0029] In this utility model, the reference to "embodiment" means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a mutually exclusive, independent, or alternative embodiment. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application may be combined with other embodiments without conflict.

[0030] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0031] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0032] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0033] The cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit provided by this utility model can have various implementation forms, as detailed below. Figures 1-12 Describe the indoor unit of a cabinet-type air conditioner.

[0034] It should be noted that the indoor unit 100 of the cabinet air conditioner, as the indoor unit of the air conditioner, is usually installed indoors and exchanges heat with the indoor environment to carry indoor heat to the outside. The air conditioner also includes the indoor unit 100, which is installed indoors and used for heat exchange with the indoor environment.

[0035] When the indoor heat exchanger 20 is used as a condenser, the air conditioner is used as a heater in heating mode; when the indoor heat exchanger 20 is used as an evaporator, the air conditioner is used as a cooler in cooling mode.

[0036] refer to Figure 1 In one illustrative embodiment of the cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit 100 provided by this utility model, the cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit 100 includes a housing 10, which is installed indoors and forms the overall appearance of the cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit 100.

[0037] The housing 10 has an internal receiving space for installing and fixing the various components of the cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit 100. The housing 10 is designed to be placed vertically on the ground and has a top and a bottom, which are opposite ends of the housing 10 along its length. The housing 10 also defines a heat exchange chamber 40 within its interior.

[0038] refer to Figure 2 The housing 10 may include an air inlet 11. The air inlet 11 is connected to the heat exchange chamber 40 and serves as the inlet for external air to flow into the housing 10.

[0039] The housing 10 may include an air outlet. The air outlet is connected to the heat exchange chamber 40 and serves as the outlet for the heat-exchanged air to flow out of the housing 10.

[0040] Indoor air outside the casing 10 enters the casing 10 through the air inlet 11 and is finally exhausted to the outside through the air outlet.

[0041] In this embodiment, the air outlet is located on the front side of the housing 10, and the air inlet 11 is located on the rear side of the housing 10, so as to realize rear air intake and front air exhaust.

[0042] In some embodiments of this application, the air outlet may include a front air outlet and a side air outlet. The front air outlet is located at the top of the housing 10 and above the side air outlet. There are two side air outlets, which are located on both sides of the front air outlet.

[0043] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 1 The indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner may include an air guide plate 12, which is connected to the housing 10 and is located at the side air outlet to serve both the functions of air rectification and safety protection.

[0044] Continue to refer to Figure 1 The indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner may include a damper 13, which is connected to the housing 10 and is used to open or close the front air outlet.

[0045] It should be noted that the directions described in the text are based on the direction in which the user faces the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner. Specifically, the side of the indoor unit 100 facing the user when in use is defined as the front side, and the opposite side is defined as the rear side. The left and right sides are distinguished by the direction in which the user faces the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner.

[0046] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 The indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner may include an indoor heat exchanger 20, which is disposed in the heat exchange chamber 40 for heat exchange with the air inside the casing 10. The indoor heat exchanger 20 may be installed inside the air inlet 11.

[0047] In this embodiment, the indoor heat exchanger 20 is positioned corresponding to the air inlet 11. The side of the indoor heat exchanger 20 closest to the air inlet 11 is the windward side, and the side opposite the windward side is the leeward side.

[0048] It should be noted that the indoor heat exchanger 20 has several refrigerant flow paths, which are connected in parallel.

[0049] In some embodiments of this application, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner may include a cross-flow fan disposed within the heat exchange chamber 40, and the cross-flow fan is positioned relative to the indoor heat exchanger 20 near the air outlet. The cross-flow fan includes two cross-flow fans 30 to form a double cross-flow duct within the heat exchange chamber 40.

[0050] In this embodiment, a cross-flow fan is installed between the indoor heat exchanger 20 and the air outlet. Under the action of the cross-flow fan, indoor air enters the heat exchange chamber 40 through the air inlet 11. The indoor air exchanges heat with the indoor heat exchanger 20 in the heat exchange chamber 40. The indoor air after heat exchange is discharged from the casing 10 through the air outlet under the drive of the cross-flow fan.

[0051] An air conditioner may include a refrigerant circuit. A refrigerant circuit is formed by connecting pipes to the outdoor unit and the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner, enabling indoor cooling or heating.

[0052] An air conditioner may include an outdoor unit, which is an outdoor air conditioning unit, and the outdoor air conditioning unit includes an outdoor heat exchanger.

[0053] Air conditioners also include outdoor units, which are located outdoors and used for heat exchange with the indoor environment.

[0054] Refrigeration and heating cycles include compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation processes. They provide cooling or heating to the indoor space through the heat absorption and release processes of the refrigerant, thereby regulating the temperature of the indoor space.

[0055] The compressor compresses the refrigerant gas into a high-temperature, high-pressure state and discharges the compressed refrigerant gas, which then flows into the condenser.

[0056] The condenser condenses the compressed, high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant, and the heat is released to the surrounding environment through the condensation process.

[0057] The liquid refrigerant flowing out of the condenser enters the throttling device, which expands the high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant after condensation in the condenser into a low-pressure liquid refrigerant.

[0058] The low-pressure liquid refrigerant flowing out of the throttling device enters the evaporator. As the liquid refrigerant flows through the evaporator, it absorbs heat and evaporates into a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas. The low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas returns to the compressor.

[0059] The evaporator achieves its cooling effect by exchanging heat with the material being cooled using the latent heat of refrigerant evaporation. Throughout this entire cycle, the air conditioner regulates the temperature of the indoor space.

[0060] In some embodiments of this application, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner may include an inlet pipe assembly 50. The inlet pipe assembly 50 is disposed in the heat exchange chamber 40 and is used to deliver refrigerant to the indoor unit of the air conditioner under cooling conditions and to divert the refrigerant to the indoor heat exchanger 20, thereby providing refrigerant supply for the heat exchange between the indoor heat exchanger 20 and the indoor air.

[0061] refer to Figure 4 In this embodiment, the inlet pipe assembly 50 is located at one end of the indoor heat exchanger 20.

[0062] In some embodiments of this application, the inlet pipe assembly 50 may include an inlet pipe 1, which is disposed in the heat exchange chamber 40 and is used to deliver refrigerant to the indoor heat exchanger 20.

[0063] Specifically, one end of the inlet pipe 1 can be connected to a throttling device, so that the throttled refrigerant flows into the inlet pipe and then into multiple refrigerant flow paths of the indoor heat exchanger 20.

[0064] refer to Figures 5-7 The inlet pipe assembly 50 may include a distribution pipe 2, which extends along the length of the housing 10 and is disposed inside the heat exchange chamber 40. The distribution pipe 2 is located at one end of the indoor heat exchanger 20, and both ends of the distribution pipe 2 are closed along its length to prevent the refrigerant entering the distribution pipe from flowing out at both ends.

[0065] refer to Figure 6 The inlet pipe assembly 50 may include several branch pipes 3, one end of which is connected to the branch pipe 2, and the other end of which is connected to several refrigerant flow paths in a corresponding manner, so that the refrigerant in the branch pipe 2 can be distributed to each refrigerant flow path.

[0066] Several branch pipes 3 are located in the heat exchange cavity 40. The branch pipes 3 can be distributed approximately evenly along the length of the branch pipe 2. The branch pipes 3 are set on the same side of the branch pipe 2, which facilitates the flow of refrigerant in the branch pipe, reduces pressure loss, and improves heat exchange capacity.

[0067] Among them, several branch pipes 3 are set on one side of the end of the branch pipe 2 facing the indoor heat exchanger, which improves the structural compactness and facilitates its assembly with the U-shaped tube of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0068] In this embodiment, both the diversion pipe 2 and the diversion branch pipe 3 are straight pipes, and the diameter of the diversion branch pipe 3 is smaller than that of the diversion pipe 2. The inlet pipe 1 and the diversion pipe 2 are arranged in parallel in the heat exchange chamber 40, and several diversion branch pipes 3 are arranged vertically on the diversion pipe 2, which helps to improve the structural compactness.

[0069] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 6 , Figure 7 The inlet pipe assembly 50 may include a connector 4, wherein the inlet pipe 1 and the branch pipe 2 are connected by the connector 4.

[0070] refer to Figure 7 , Figure 9 The connector 4 may include a first interface 41, which is connected to the shunt pipe 2. The connector 4 may include a second interface 42, which is connected to one end of the inlet pipe 1. The throttled refrigerant flows into the inlet pipe and then through the branch pipe 2 and each branch pipe 3 into multiple refrigerant flow paths of the indoor heat exchanger 20, thus achieving refrigerant inlet diversion for the indoor heat exchanger.

[0071] The connector 4 may include a third interface 43. A first flow channel 44 is formed within the connector 4, which connects the second interface 42 and the third interface 43, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the inlet pipe 1 can flow through the first flow channel 44 to the second interface 42.

[0072] refer to Figure 8 A second flow channel 45 is formed inside the connector 4. The second flow channel 45 connects the first flow channel 44 and the first interface 41, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the inlet pipe 1 can enter the branch pipe 2 through the first flow channel 44 and the second flow channel 45.

[0073] refer to Figure 7 The inlet pipe assembly 50 may include a first blind pipe 5. Specifically, one end of the first blind pipe 5 is closed, and the other end of the first blind pipe 5 is connected to the third interface 43, with the two ends of the first blind pipe 5 arranged opposite to each other.

[0074] Among them, the connection between connector 4 and the first blind pipe 5, the connection between connector 4 and the inlet pipe 1, and the connection between connector 4 and the diversion pipe 2 can be fixed by welding, which is convenient for processing and assembly, and the connection is firm, ensuring that there will be no leakage at the pipe interface and ensuring stable refrigerant flow pressure.

[0075] In this embodiment, when the refrigerant in the inlet pipe 1 flows through the connector 4, the centrifugal force on the refrigerant flow can be destroyed by the first blind pipe 5 and the connector 4. That is, the influence of the dynamic pressure generated by the refrigerant when it flows in the pipeline on the refrigerant diversion is overcome. The static pressure principle is used to finally achieve uniform diversion, realize the consistency of the outlet temperature of the refrigerant flow path, balance the heat exchange intensity of each refrigerant flow path, and avoid the decay of the heat exchange capacity of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0076] In some embodiments of this application, the inlet pipe assembly 50 may include an impeller 6, which is fixedly disposed in the second flow channel 45. Multiple liquid passages are formed between the impeller 6 and the pipe wall of the connector 4, allowing refrigerant to pass through.

[0077] After passing through the impeller 6, the refrigerant will rotate due to centrifugal force, which can effectively reduce the gravitational influence on the refrigerant after it enters the distribution pipe 2 through the second channel 45. This allows the refrigerant to be evenly distributed into the upper and lower sections of the distribution pipe 2, thereby making the refrigerant more evenly distributed into each distribution branch pipe 3 and improving the overall heat exchange efficiency of the indoor heat exchanger 20.

[0078] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 9 The connector 4 is a tee. The tee can be a T-shaped tee. The second interface 42 and the third interface 43 are arranged opposite each other, with the third interface 43 located above the second interface. The first flow channel 44 and the second flow channel 45 are arranged perpendicularly.

[0079] In this embodiment, after the refrigerant enters the first flow channel 44 vertically from the lower inlet pipe 1, it is immediately divided into equal amounts in the upper and lower parts of the T-shaped symmetrical cavity, and then enters the diversion pipe 2 horizontally through the second flow channel 45. The difference in flow rate between the upper and lower parts caused by gravity and centrifugal force is reduced, laying the foundation for the subsequent secondary flow equalization of the impeller.

[0080] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 6 The top and bottom of the diversion pipe 2 are sealed by a second blind pipe 21 and a third blind pipe 22, respectively. Both the second blind pipe 21 and the third blind pipe 22 are tubular structures with one open end and the other closed. Specifically, the two ends of the second blind pipe 21 are positioned opposite each other, as are the two ends of the third blind pipe 22.

[0081] The top end of the branch pipe 2 is sealed by the second blind pipe 21, and the bottom end of the branch pipe 2 is sealed by the third blind pipe 22. This prevents the refrigerant from flowing out from both ends of the branch pipe and forms a buffer chamber, achieving the purpose of stabilizing pressure and flow. This helps to improve the uniformity of the flow distribution and further enhance the consistency of the refrigerant flow in each branch pipe 3.

[0082] In some embodiments of this application, the length of the second blind tube 21 is greater than the length of the third blind tube 22.

[0083] The refrigerant is in a gas-liquid two-phase flow in the inlet pipe assembly. During the flow, gaseous refrigerant will be released. The second blind pipe 21 can provide a space to contain the released gaseous refrigerant.

[0084] When the length of the second blind pipe 21 is less than the length of the third blind pipe 22, the gaseous refrigerant, due to its low density, tends to accumulate at the top, and the shorter second blind pipe 21 cannot provide enough space to accommodate it. This causes excess gaseous refrigerant to flow into the top branch pipe 3, resulting in a predominance of gaseous refrigerant at the top and a predominance of liquid refrigerant at the bottom. This affects the consistency of refrigerant flow in the refrigerant flow path, and consequently affects the heat exchange efficiency of the indoor heat exchanger 20.

[0085] In this embodiment, the length of the second blind tube 21 is set to be greater than the length of the third blind tube 22. The longer second blind tube 21 can provide sufficient space for the gaseous refrigerant precipitated at the top of the branch tube 2, and most of the gaseous refrigerant can be gathered in the second blind tube 21. This solves the problem that the uppermost branch tube 3 is always occupied by gaseous refrigerant, resulting in extremely uneven flow between the upper and lower branches, and improves the consistency of the flow rate and heat exchange uniformity of the refrigerant flow paths in the upper and lower branches.

[0086] In some embodiments of this application, the first interface 41 is connected to the middle of the shunt tube 2.

[0087] In this embodiment, the first interface 41 is connected to the middle of the branch pipe 2, so that the refrigerant enters from the middle position of the branch pipe 2 and flows into the branch pipes 3 on the upper and lower sections of the pipe. This reduces the time difference and pressure difference of the refrigerant reaching each branch pipe 3, making the refrigerant flow rate in each branch pipe 3 of the upper and lower sections of the branch pipe 2 more uniform. This improves the heat exchange uniformity of each refrigerant flow path during evaporation in the indoor heat exchanger and improves the overall heat exchange efficiency of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0088] In some embodiments of this application, the diversion pipe 2 has a through portion connected to the first interface 41, so that refrigerant outside the diversion pipe 2 enters the diversion pipe 2 through the through portion.

[0089] If there are fewer than three branch pipes 3 between the through section and the bottom of the branch pipe 2, the pressure advantage at the through section will be wasted. When the refrigerant flows to the bottom, it is easy to accumulate due to the small number of branch points. Under the action of gravity, the refrigerant in the branch pipe 2 flows to the bottom, resulting in the problem of concentrated flow at the bottom due to gravity.

[0090] In this embodiment, at least three branch pipes 3 are provided between the through section and the bottom of the branch pipe 2. The refrigerant in the area below the through section flows faster under the action of gravity. By increasing the number of branch pipes 3 in this area, the high kinetic energy of this area can be fully utilized to distribute the refrigerant relatively evenly to multiple branch pipes 3, effectively compensating for the problem of concentrated flow at the bottom caused by gravity, thereby significantly improving the refrigerant distribution uniformity of the corresponding section of the indoor heat exchanger 40.

[0091] In some embodiments of this application, the impeller 6 may include a plurality of blades 61, which are evenly spaced circumferentially around the central axis of the impeller 6. One end of each blade 61, away from the central axis, is connected to the wall of the connector 4, and the other ends of the blades 61 are connected to each other.

[0092] The impeller 6, with its multiple blades 61 arranged in a uniform manner, makes the centrifugal force field completely symmetrical in the circumferential direction, eliminating the secondary flow deviation caused by uneven blade arrangement. This allows the refrigerant to be evenly distributed in the circumferential direction under the action of centrifugal force, avoiding new uneven flow caused by local excessive or weak force, and further ensuring the consistency of flow distribution.

[0093] The multi-blade distribution 61 can disperse the impact force of the refrigerant on the impeller 6, reduce the force on each individual blade 61, and, in conjunction with the connection of the end of the blade 61 away from the central axis to the pipe wall of the connector, can further improve the overall stability of the impeller 6, avoid the impeller vibration and noise generated when the refrigerant flows at high speed, and ensure the stability of the flow guiding effect during long-term operation.

[0094] In some embodiments of this application, the blade 61 has a liquid-facing surface facing the second flow channel 45, which is inclined relative to the axial direction of the second flow channel 45.

[0095] By tilting the liquid-facing surface, the flow state of the refrigerant in the second flow channel 45 can be adjusted, reducing the influence of gravity on the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant entering the split pipe 2.

[0096] By tilting the liquid-facing surface of the blade 61 relative to the axial direction of the second flow channel 45, when the refrigerant flows through the liquid-facing surface, the tilted liquid-facing surface provides a combined velocity of "tangential + axial" for the axially entering refrigerant. Under the action of the liquid-facing surface, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant becomes a spiral flow of "rotation + axial", thereby shielding the interference of gravity on the flow distribution of the vertical splitter pipe 2 and making it evenly distributed into the upper and lower sections of the splitter pipe 2.

[0097] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 4 The indoor unit 100 of the cabinet air conditioner may include an outlet pipe assembly 60, which is used to collect refrigerant in each refrigerant flow path under cooling conditions.

[0098] refer to Figure 10 , Figure 11 The outlet pipe assembly 60 may include a manifold 7. The manifold 7 is located within the heat exchange chamber 40 and extends along the length of the casing 10.

[0099] The manifold 7, branch pipe 2, and inlet pipe 1 in the heat exchange cavity are arranged in parallel, which allows the inlet pipe assembly 50 and outlet pipe assembly 60 to be arranged more compactly in the heat exchange cavity 40, reducing the space occupied by the pipes.

[0100] In this embodiment, reference Figure 12 The manifold 7, branch pipe 2, and inlet pipe 1 in the heat exchange chamber 40 are arranged in parallel to form a "straight line" layout, which can be installed close to the end plate of the indoor heat exchanger 20, providing a compact layout in the heat exchange chamber and reducing the space occupied by the pipeline inside the casing.

[0101] The outlet pipe assembly 60 may include a plurality of manifolds 71. One end of the plurality of manifolds 71 ​​is connected to the manifold 7, and the other end of the plurality of manifolds 71 ​​is respectively connected to the other end of a plurality of refrigerant flow paths, so that the manifolds 71 ​​connect the manifold 7 and the plurality of refrigerant flow paths, so that the refrigerant in each refrigerant flow path is collected in the manifold 7 through the manifolds 71.

[0102] In some embodiments of this application, the diameter of the branch pipe 2 is smaller than the diameter of the manifold 7.

[0103] When the refrigerant enters the branch pipe 2 from the inlet pipe 1, it is in a gas-liquid mixed state. Setting the diameter of the branch pipe 2 to a small diameter makes the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant entering the branch pipe 2 have a high flow velocity and high turbulence in the small diameter, which can further suppress gravity stratification and liquid phase deposition, improve the consistency of liquid refrigerant flowing into each branch pipe 3, and improve the utilization rate of indoor heat exchanger 20.

[0104] The refrigerant entering the manifold 7 through the branch pipe 71 is in a gaseous state. The gaseous refrigerant has a large specific volume. Increasing the diameter of the manifold 7 can effectively reduce kinetic energy loss and friction resistance when the gaseous refrigerant passes through, which is beneficial to improving the cooling capacity and energy efficiency ratio.

[0105] In this embodiment, the diameter of the branch pipe 2 is set to be smaller than that of the manifold 7. The uneven distribution is solved by using 'high-speed turbulence' and the return resistance is reduced by using 'low speed and low pressure'. This can improve both the uniformity of the distribution and the energy efficiency, thereby improving the heat exchange uniformity and cooling efficiency of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0106] In some other embodiments, the impeller is disposed in a second flow channel and has a plurality of blades arranged circumferentially spaced apart, the blades being configured to cause the refrigerant flowing through the impeller to swirl.

[0107] In this embodiment, the space of the second flow channel 45 is cleverly utilized so that the refrigerant rotates due to centrifugal force when flowing through the impeller 6, thereby reducing the gravitational influence on the refrigerant after entering the distribution pipe 1. This allows the refrigerant to flow more evenly into the distribution pipe 2, and then evenly enter the refrigerant flow path of the indoor heat exchanger 20 through the distribution branch pipe 3. This reduces the complexity of the flow path and improves the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

[0108] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0109] For ease of explanation, the above description has been provided in conjunction with specific embodiments. However, the above exemplary discussion is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the specific forms disclosed above. Various modifications and variations can be obtained based on the above teachings. The selection and description of the above embodiments are for the purpose of better explaining the principles and practical applications, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better utilize the described embodiments and various different variations of embodiments suitable for specific use considerations.

Claims

1. A cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit, characterized in that, include: The housing has a top and bottom end that are opposite ends along its length. The housing defines a heat exchange chamber and has an air inlet and an air outlet that communicate with the heat exchange chamber. An indoor heat exchanger is disposed within the heat exchanger along the length of the casing and near the air inlet. The indoor heat exchanger has several refrigerant flow paths connected in parallel. A cross-flow fan is installed inside the heat exchange chamber and located between the indoor heat exchanger and the air outlet; The inlet pipe assembly is used to distribute refrigerant into each of the refrigerant flow paths under refrigeration conditions. The inlet pipe assembly includes: An inlet pipe is located inside the heat exchange cavity; A diversion pipe extends along the length of the casing and is disposed within the heat exchange cavity, with both ends of the diversion pipe closed along its length. Several branch pipes are arranged at intervals along the length of the branch pipe, and one end of each branch pipe is connected to the branch pipe, while the other end is connected to each of the refrigerant flow paths. A connector is provided with a first interface, a second interface and a third interface that are connected to each other. A first flow channel is formed in the connector to connect the second interface and the third interface, and a second flow channel is formed to connect the first flow channel and the first interface. The first interface is connected to the split pipe and the second interface is connected to one end of the inlet pipe. The first blind tube has one end closed and the other end connected to the third interface; An impeller is fixed in the second flow channel, and multiple liquid passages for refrigerant to pass through are formed between the impeller and the tube wall of the connector.

2. The cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top and bottom of the shunt tube are sealed by a second blind tube and a third blind tube, respectively.

3. The cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The length of the second blind tube is greater than the length of the third blind tube.

4. The cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first interface is connected to the middle of the shunt pipe.

5. The cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shunt pipe has a through section connected to the first interface, and at least three shunt branch pipes are provided between the through section and the bottom end of the shunt pipe.

6. The cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The impeller includes multiple blades, which are evenly spaced around the central axis of the impeller in the circumferential direction. The end of each blade away from the central axis is connected to the pipe wall of the connector.

7. The cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 6, characterized in that, The blade has a liquid-facing surface facing the second flow channel, and the liquid-facing surface is inclined relative to the axial direction of the second flow channel.

8. The cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, It also includes an outlet pipe assembly, which includes a manifold and several manifold branches. The several manifold branches connect the manifold to the other end of several refrigerant flow paths. The manifold located in the heat exchange cavity is arranged parallel to the branch pipe and the inlet pipe.

9. The cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 8, characterized in that, The diameter of the branch pipe is smaller than the diameter of the manifold.

10. A cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit, characterized in that, include: The housing has a top and bottom end that are opposite ends along its length. The housing defines a heat exchange chamber and has an air inlet and an air outlet that communicate with the heat exchange chamber. An indoor heat exchanger is disposed within the heat exchanger along the length of the casing and near the air inlet. The indoor heat exchanger has several refrigerant flow paths connected in parallel. A cross-flow fan is installed inside the heat exchange chamber and located between the indoor heat exchanger and the air outlet; The inlet pipe assembly is used to distribute refrigerant into each of the refrigerant flow paths under refrigeration conditions. The inlet pipe assembly includes: An inlet pipe is located inside the heat exchange cavity; A diversion pipe extends along the length of the casing and is disposed within the heat exchange cavity, with both ends of the diversion pipe closed along its length. Several branch pipes are arranged at intervals along the length of the branch pipe, and one end of each branch pipe is connected to the branch pipe, while the other end is connected to each of the refrigerant flow paths. A connector is provided with a first interface, a second interface and a third interface that are connected to each other. A first flow channel is formed in the connector to connect the second interface and the third interface, and a second flow channel is formed to connect the first flow channel and the first interface. The first interface is connected to the split pipe and the second interface is connected to one end of the inlet pipe. The first blind tube has one end closed and the other end connected to the third interface; An impeller, disposed in the second flow channel, has a plurality of blades arranged at circumferential intervals, the blades being configured to cause the refrigerant flowing through the impeller to swirl.

Images